FIFA has launched a brand new system for the 2026 World Cup knockout phases that may see the highest 4 seeded groups keep away from one another till no less than the semi-finals of subsequent summer time’s 48-team match.
In a tennis-style, much like the one adopted by FIFA throughout final summer time’s Membership World Cup, the highest two groups within the present FIFA rankings – Spain (1) and Argentina (2) – might be on reverse draw pathways, as will the third and fourth-ranked sides, France and England, to make sure aggressive stability.
In consequence, the 4 nations might be positioned in several quadrants of the knockout section and might be separated into pots. Subsequently, England will keep away from European champions Spain and world champions Argentina till a possible semi-final.
Whereas France, who beat the Three Lions within the World Cup quarter-finals in 2022, are unable to fulfill Thomas Tuchel’s aspect till the ultimate.
How do the pots work?
Among the many high seeds, England are in pot 1, whereas Scotland are in pot 3. Which means England and Scotland may very well be drawn collectively within the group stage.
Nonetheless, as a most of two European groups might be positioned in every group, if England draw a European opponent from pot 2, Scotland won’t be drawn with England.
Play-off hopefuls Northern Eire, Republic of Eire and Wales are in pot 4 (see European Play-Off A, B, C under), with Northern Eire and Wales battling for one spot in play-off path A.
England are among the many world’s high four-ranked sides who might be stored aside till the semi-final stage on the earliest
Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia
Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Play-Off A, B, C and D, FIFA Play-Off Event 1 and a couple of
What does this imply for the World Cup draw?
The draw for the finals will happen in Washington, DC, on December 5, beginning at 5pm UK time.
US President Donald Trump will be part of FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the John F Kennedy Heart – a performing arts venue the place Trump is chairman – to resolve the group stage fixtures. The draw will take between 45-50 minutes with a complete present time anticipated of about 1 hour 20 minutes.
It should start with all of the groups from pot 1 being drawn to teams A to L. It should then proceed with pots 2, 3 and 4 in that order.
For pots 2, 3 and 4, every workforce’s group place might be decided in accordance with a predefined allocation sample. A workforce’s place throughout the group will then be decided by the pot from which they’re drawn and by the group into which they’re drawn.
In precept, no group may have multiple workforce from the identical confederation drawn into it. This is applicable to all confederations besides UEFA, which is represented by 16 groups. Every group will need to have no less than one, however not more than two UEFA groups drawn into it.
For the 2 FIFA Play-Off Event placeholders, so as to adjust to FIFA’s basic precept to make sure that no group has multiple workforce from the identical confederation drawn into it, the confederation constraint might be utilized to all three groups inside every pathway of the 2 FIFA Play-Off Event placeholders in pot 4.
Pathway 1 of the inter-confederation play-off spots, which incorporates New Caledonia, Jamaica and DR Congo can’t be drawn into a bunch with Concacaf or African groups. Whereas pathway 2, consisting of Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq, should keep away from South America, Concacaf and Asia.
Saying the draw venue on the White Home in August, Trump stated the World Cup was “the most important occasion in sports activities”, whereas Infantino declared the 104 matches could be like “104 Tremendous Bowls”.
Who has certified already for World Cup?
Forty-two groups have certified for the 2026 World Cup up to now, with an inventory under:
World Cup 2026 match schedule
The complete fixture checklist with group video games and kick-off instances might be obtainable after the draw, however FIFA has already introduced key dates and confirmed that the opening match might be held in Mexico Metropolis.
Whereas the Remaining Draw will decide which groups play one another within the group stage, the up to date match schedule, together with the stadium assigned to every match and the respective kick-off time, might be confirmed on Saturday, 6 December.
The ultimate will happen on the New York-New Jersey (MetLife) Stadium – residence of the New York Giants and New York Jets.
Group stage: June 11-27
Spherical of 32: June 28 to July 3
Spherical of 16: July 4-7
Quarter-finals: July Sept. 11
Semi-finals: July 14-15
Third-place play-off (‘Bronze last’): July 18
Remaining: July 19
FIFA has launched a brand new system for the 2026 World Cup knockout phases that may see the highest 4 seeded groups keep away from one another till no less than the semi-finals of subsequent summer time’s 48-team match.
In a tennis-style, much like the one adopted by FIFA throughout final summer time’s Membership World Cup, the highest two groups within the present FIFA rankings – Spain (1) and Argentina (2) – might be on reverse draw pathways, as will the third and fourth-ranked sides, France and England, to make sure aggressive stability.
In consequence, the 4 nations might be positioned in several quadrants of the knockout section and might be separated into pots. Subsequently, England will keep away from European champions Spain and world champions Argentina till a possible semi-final.
Whereas France, who beat the Three Lions within the World Cup quarter-finals in 2022, are unable to fulfill Thomas Tuchel’s aspect till the ultimate.
How do the pots work?
Among the many high seeds, England are in pot 1, whereas Scotland are in pot 3. Which means England and Scotland may very well be drawn collectively within the group stage.
Nonetheless, as a most of two European groups might be positioned in every group, if England draw a European opponent from pot 2, Scotland won’t be drawn with England.
Play-off hopefuls Northern Eire, Republic of Eire and Wales are in pot 4 (see European Play-Off A, B, C under), with Northern Eire and Wales battling for one spot in play-off path A.
England are among the many world’s high four-ranked sides who might be stored aside till the semi-final stage on the earliest
Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia
Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Play-Off A, B, C and D, FIFA Play-Off Event 1 and a couple of
What does this imply for the World Cup draw?
The draw for the finals will happen in Washington, DC, on December 5, beginning at 5pm UK time.
US President Donald Trump will be part of FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the John F Kennedy Heart – a performing arts venue the place Trump is chairman – to resolve the group stage fixtures. The draw will take between 45-50 minutes with a complete present time anticipated of about 1 hour 20 minutes.
It should start with all of the groups from pot 1 being drawn to teams A to L. It should then proceed with pots 2, 3 and 4 in that order.
For pots 2, 3 and 4, every workforce’s group place might be decided in accordance with a predefined allocation sample. A workforce’s place throughout the group will then be decided by the pot from which they’re drawn and by the group into which they’re drawn.
In precept, no group may have multiple workforce from the identical confederation drawn into it. This is applicable to all confederations besides UEFA, which is represented by 16 groups. Every group will need to have no less than one, however not more than two UEFA groups drawn into it.
For the 2 FIFA Play-Off Event placeholders, so as to adjust to FIFA’s basic precept to make sure that no group has multiple workforce from the identical confederation drawn into it, the confederation constraint might be utilized to all three groups inside every pathway of the 2 FIFA Play-Off Event placeholders in pot 4.
Pathway 1 of the inter-confederation play-off spots, which incorporates New Caledonia, Jamaica and DR Congo can’t be drawn into a bunch with Concacaf or African groups. Whereas pathway 2, consisting of Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq, should keep away from South America, Concacaf and Asia.
Saying the draw venue on the White Home in August, Trump stated the World Cup was “the most important occasion in sports activities”, whereas Infantino declared the 104 matches could be like “104 Tremendous Bowls”.
Who has certified already for World Cup?
Forty-two groups have certified for the 2026 World Cup up to now, with an inventory under:
World Cup 2026 match schedule
The complete fixture checklist with group video games and kick-off instances might be obtainable after the draw, however FIFA has already introduced key dates and confirmed that the opening match might be held in Mexico Metropolis.
Whereas the Remaining Draw will decide which groups play one another within the group stage, the up to date match schedule, together with the stadium assigned to every match and the respective kick-off time, might be confirmed on Saturday, 6 December.
The ultimate will happen on the New York-New Jersey (MetLife) Stadium – residence of the New York Giants and New York Jets.
Group stage: June 11-27
Spherical of 32: June 28 to July 3
Spherical of 16: July 4-7
Quarter-finals: July Sept. 11
Semi-finals: July 14-15
Third-place play-off (‘Bronze last’): July 18
Remaining: July 19
